Manufacture of filter-tip cigarettes



Sept. 19, 1961 G. D. HORGAN MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1958 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGANATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1961 G. D. HORGAN MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIPCIGARETTES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 3, 1958 INVENTOR GEORGE DANlELHORGAN BY 7M ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1961 D. HORGAN 3,000,382

MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES Filed Sept. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN 'WJM ATTORNEY United States Patent CMANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETIES George Daniel Horgan, London,England, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporationof New Jersey Filed Sept. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 758,705 Claims priority,application Great Britain Sept. 10, 1957 15 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) Thisinvention relates to the production of filter-mouthpiece cigarettes andis more particularly concerned with the wrapping of a connecting sheetof tipping material to unite the filter to the tobacco section of thecomplete cigarette. It is known in the art of making filter-mouthpiececigarettes to assemble together two suitable lengths of cigarette rodand interposing a double length filter mouthpiece between them, buttingthe assembly together, and rolling a gummed section of tipping materialaround the butted ends to unite them, the mouthpiece portion andconnecting material being then cut through to form two equal cigarettes.The tipping material is usually fed from a continuous reel and isgummed, cut to length and carried by a suction drum or other device to adrum which is rotated to carry the assembled cigarettes to a final cutting position, the tipping material being applied and rolled upon thecigarettes whilst they are passing to said position. It has been foundvery undesirable to roll the cigarettes to a greater extent than isnecessary to wrap the assembly completely, said rolling tending toloosen the tobacco and to cause excessive shorts or extrusion of tobaccofrom the ends of the cigarettes. It is accordingly an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved method and means of applyingthe tipping material which greatly minimizes the above disadvantage andaffords smooth wrapping without requiring intermittent operation.

The invention comprises controlling the rolling motion of cigaretteassemblies carried on the periphery of a rotatable hollow member or cageduring application of wrapping or connecting material by effectingengaging contact with such assemblies from the interior of the saidmember or cage.

The invention also consists in a machine for applying wrapping orconnecting material to filter-mouthpiece cigarette assemblies,comprising a rotatable member or cage formed to support assembledcigarette and mouthpiece lengths on the periphery thereof, means forfeeding lengths of wrapping or connecting material to be wrapped aboutthe assemblies, and means within the member or cage having a surface forfrictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies to control the rollingmotion thereof during the wrapping operation.

In a preferred arrangement according to the invention the cigaretteassemblies are supported between spaced rods or rollers constituting theperiphery of the rotatable member or cage and are engaged in the regionof the wrapper or connecting sheet application by a rotatable drum orroller mounted eccentrically within the drum or cage so that theassemblies are subjected to a rolling motion between the surface of saidroller or drum and a rotary suction controlled drum or equivalent meanswhich feeds lengths of previously gummed wrapper material to theassemblies so that the wrapper is secured about the butted ends of suchassemblies. Preferably the speed of the controlling engaging surface isthe same as that at which the wrapping material is fed but in theopposite direction.

In a convenient construction according to the invention the rotatablecage or drum is carried upon a driven hollow shaft through which a fixedshaft extends into the interior of the cage or drum and is formed tosupport the eccentn'cally mounted controlling roller or drum. Internalguide means for maintaining the cigarette assemblies in 3,000,382Patented Sept. '19, 1961 the desired position between the rods orrollers of the cage are also supported from the said fixed shaft.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment of theinvention,

FIGURE 1 is an end view, with the front plate removed, of a machine forapplying wrapping material to filter-mouthpiece cigarettes;

FIGURES 2 and 2a are top and bottom half sections respectively on theline X--X of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail of one end of a roller carrying rod.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode,illustrated in the drawing, as applied by way of example to a machinefor applying wrapping material to an assembly of two cigarette lengthswith an inter-' posed double length of mouthpiece material, there isprovided a rotatably mounted hollow member or cage comprising a frontend plate 1 of circular disc shape and a rear end plate 2 of dishedcircular shape connected at their peripheries by a series of spacedparallel rods 3. As shown in detail in FIGURE 3, a bearing sleeve 4 issecured near the end of each rod 3 and a tubular roller 5 is supportedfor free rotation upon the sleeves. The peripheries of the end plates 1and 2 are transversely grooved or serrated to provide a series ofuniformly spaced projections 6 and each rod is mounted between twoopposite projections so that there is a free through space between therollers. The latter are spaced circumferentially so as to locate freelybetween them a cigarette assembly 7. Also the outside diameter of therollers 5 is less than that of the cigarettes and the centers of bothrollers and cigarettes are located on the same pitch circle 8. Plainrods of suitable diameter may be employed instead of the rollers ifdesired. The axial spacing of the end plates 1 and 2 is such that thecigarette assembly will project a short distance from either end as seenin the lower part of FIGURE 2a. The cage is secured by means of bolts toa flange 9 (FIGURE 2) on a hollow shaft 10 which is supported inbearings 11 and 12 from a suitable housing, parts of which are shown inFIGURE 2 at 13 and 14. The hollow shaft 10 is arranged to be driventhrough suitable gearing including a pinion, indicated at 15, secured tothe shaft. A fixed shaft 16 extends through the tubular shaft 10 and isnon-rotatably locked to the housing 13, 14 by an arm 17 secured to theshaft and a cross pin 18. The fixed shaft is located by bearing sleeves19 and 20, and projects within the cage. A crank arm 21 se cured to theend of the fixed shaft 16 within the cage has a crank pin 22 securedthereto upon which is mounted a bearing 23 for a rotatable tip-rollingdrum 24 disposed eccentrically with respect to the cage so that itsperiphery approaches closely to the ring of rollers 5 at the regionwhere the wrapping material is to be applied. This region liesunderneath and to one side of the cage and is indicated at 25 inFIGURE 1. A suction controlled drum 26 for feeding Wrapping material tothe cage is suitably disposed in this region and the minimum spacingbetween the peripheries of the suction drum and the tip-rolling drum 24is set at substantially the diameter of a cigarette. The suction drummay be of known kind and is adjustably mounted to obtain the requiredsetting. The surface of the tip-rolling drum 24 is coated with asuitable friction material such as that known as Teflon. The axiallength of the surface of this drum 24 is such that it overlaps thedouble length of mouthpiece material in the cigarette assembly. Thismouthpiece material is shown at 27 in the lower part of FIGURE 2a. Apin-ion 28 is secured to the hub of the tip-rolling drum 24 and ismeshed with an intermediate pinion 29 rotatable on a bearing 30 upon apin 31 secured to an extension 32 of the crank arm 21. The intermediatepinion 29 meshes with an internally toothed ring 33 bolted to the endplate 2 of the cage. By

'ing guide means or segments 43 and 44 3 this arrangement rotation ofthe cage rotates the tip-rolling drum in the opposite direction, and thegearing is chosen so that the peripheral speeds of the tip-rolling drum24 and the suction controlled drum 26 which carries the wrappingmaterial are the same.

' The cigarette assemblies 7 are fed to the spaces between the cagerollers by any convenient means (not shown) from a position indicated bythe arrow 55 in FIGURE 1, and are carried by the cage so as to passbetween the tiprolling drum 24 and the suction controlled drum 26 andthereby have imparted to them a rolling motion as they meet thepreviously gummed sheets of wrapping material (34 in FIGURE 1) which arethus completely wrapped round the assembled cigarettes and mouthpiecesections to secure these together.

The cigarette assemblies are maintained in the required position betweenthe cage rollers 5 by stationary support- (FIGURE 2) mounted inside thecage at a suitable distance from the inner periphery thereof, theseguide means or segments being interrupted at the wrapping region aslater described. There is also provided an outer curved guide plate 35,36 or equivalent guide means as shown in FIGURE 1, this guide beinginterrupted at the suction wrapper feed drum 26. The double mouthpiecelengths 27 are fed to the cage by a suitable transfer drum 37 (FIGURE 1)which receives the mouthpiece lengths from a source of supply (notshown) and which may be of known kind. It will be seen that the outerguide 35 extends from the transfer drum 37 to the wrapper feedingsuction drum 26.

The internal guide means or segments 43 and 44 referred to above aresupported by three arms 38 which extend from a web 39 secured to a plate40 on the end of the crank pin 22 of the stationary shaft 16. The plate40 carries a pin 41 which is aligned with the axis of the tubular shaftand carries a bearing 42 rotatably supporting the cage end plate 1. Theinternal guide means, above-mentioned, comprise flanged segments 43 and44 the peripheral surfaces of which are adapted to support the cigaretterod sections, and between these are arranged a pair of spaced flat rings45 and 46 (FIGURE 2) the edges of which support the mouthpiece material.Tubular spacers 47 are interposed between the various rings which aresecured together by bolts 48 to the stationary arms 38. It may bementioned that the butting together of the assembled cigarette rod andmouthpiece sections after they have been fed to the cage is eifected bysuitable known means.

Any suitable or known means may be provided for feeding cigarette rodand mouthpiece lengths to the spaces between the cage rollers. After thegummed lengths of wrapping material have been applied by the suctiondrum 26, the connected assemblies on the cage are subjected to heatingmeans for drying the adhesive, as for example, a heater drum indicatedat 49 in FIGURE 1. The assemblies are then received by a transfer drum,indicated at 50, upon which the assemblies are severed by a suitablecutting knife 51.

Whilst the invention has been described as applied to the connecting oftwo cigarette rod lengths with a double length mouthpiece or filterpiece, it can also be applied to assemblies comprising less or more ofsuch sections and the mouthpieces may be of any kind. Also the inventionis not restricted to the particular structural arrangements of the aboveexample.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum forsupporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, meansfor feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about theassemblies and eccentric means within said drum cooperating with saidfeeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and thelengths of connectins m e ia n a ng mot on o applyi g said len to saidassemblies.

2. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum forsupporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, meansfor feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about theassemblies and eccentrically rotatable means within said drum rotatablein a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum,cooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging thecigarette assemblies and the lengths of connecting material in a rollingmotion for applying said lengths to the assemblies.

3. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical outer drum forsupporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, arotatable inner drum, eccentrically mounted for rotation within saidouter drum, gear means operatively connecting said outer drum and saideccentrically mounted inner drum for rotating said inner drum in adirection opposite to said outer drum, a suction controlled drumdisposed exteriorly and adjacent said outer drum for feeding gummeduniting band material to the filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, andcooperating with said eccentrically mounted inner drum for engaging saidassemblies and the material in a rolling motion therebetween and forsecuring the wrapping about the assemblies.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein said gear means arearranged for operating said outer drum and said inner drum at equalsurface speeds.

5. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum forsupporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, aplurality of spaced, axially disposed rod elements rotatably securedabout the periphery of said drum for receiving the cigarette assembliestherebetween, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to bewrapped about the assemblies, and means eccentrically rotatable withinsaid drum, in a direction opposite to said drum cooperating with saiddrum and said feeding means for frictionally engaging the cigaretteassemblies and the lengths of uniting band material in a rolling motionfor applying the material to said assemblies.

6,. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said rotatable cylindricaldrum is provided with spaced peripheral projections for mounting saidrod elements.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein said rod elements consistof inner rods and freely rotatable rollers mounted thereon.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical drum isprovided with semi-circular grooves between said r'od elements forpositioning the cigarette assemblies with the center lines thereof inperipheral alignment with the center lines of the rod elements.

9. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a housing, a hollow shaft rotatablymounted in said housing, means for driving said hollow shaft, acylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies, secured tosaid hollow shaft, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material tobe wrapped about the assemblies, eccentric drum means within said drum,operatively connected to said cylindrical drum, rotatable in a directionopposite to the direction of the rotation of said cylindrical drum andcooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging'thecigarette assemblies and the wrapping material in a rolling motiontherebetween and for securing the Wrapping about the assemblies and gearmeans operatively connecting said cylindrical drum in a directionopposite to said, eccentric drum means.

10. The machine according to claim 9, further provided with a fixedshaft extending through said hollow shaft and secured to said housing,and a crank pin secured to said fixed shaft for mounting said eccentricdrum means.

11. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies, comprising a housing, a rotatable cylindrical drumfor supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof,mounted for rotation in said housing, means for feeding lengths ofuniting band material to be wrapped about the as semblies, eccentricmeans mounted for rotation within said drum, cooperating with saidfeeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and thelengths of uniting band material in a rolling motion for applying saidlengths to said assemblies, outer guide means and inner guide meansdisposed about the outer and inner peripheries of said cylindrical drumfor guiding cigarette rod sections, said outer guide means being securedto the housing, and means Within said cylindrical drum for supportingsaid inner guide means.

12. The machine according to claim 11, wherein said means for supportingthe inner guide comprise a fixed shaft secured to said housing and athree-armed radially extending member in abutment with said inner guide.

13. The machine according to claim 11, further provided with a pair ofouter flanged rings secured to said housing, said rings havingperipheral surfaces for supporting cigarette rod sections.

14. The machine according to claim 13, further provided with a pair ofspaced inner fiat rings having peripheral edges for supporting sectionsof mouthpiece material.

15. The machine according to claim 14, wherein said outer and innerguide means are formed with openings adjacent the point of contact ofthe feeding means and the eccentric means for allowing contact betweensaid eccentric means and said feeding means and the filter mouthpiececigarette assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,165,144 Lubbock July 4, 1939 2,786,472 5Creuzberg Mar. 26, 19572,802,470 Treble Aug. 13, 1957 2,809,640 Oldenkamp Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 467,333 Great Britain June 15, 1937 773,749 Great Britain May 1,1957

